“Will, come on now, and dry it up for a minute. I need to talk to you about this. It’s very important that you tell me everything regarding your relationship with Naomi. And, I mean everything.”
“I’m so glad to finally get it out in the open,” Will sniffed, and surged on, “It’s been driving me crazy to pretend that everything was all right when I was dying inside. Taylor’s been a Godsend, since she loved Naomi too. But it wasn’t the same for her—and she’s a better actor than I am.”
“Taylor is involved in all this?” I nearly squealed.
Will met my gaze and said, “Yeah. She was the only other person who knew about me and Naomi.”
“No, Will. She wasn’t. One of Naomi’s friends, a girl by the name of Sandra, knew too. She’s the one who tipped me off to you…and she thinks that you had something to do with Naomi’s death,” I said softly and slowly, wanting the words to sink into his skull.
He breathed in and then rushed the words out, “That’s totally insane. I loved Naomi. I was going to take her away from the shitty life she was living. She was going to Montana with me, Aunt Rennie. I was picking her up that night she was killed, to take her away from here.”
Damn. I took a deep breath and tried to process what he’d just said. When Daniel’s voice filled the air, I snapped my head to look at him at the same time Will did.
“How did you ever get involved with an Amish girl in the first place?” Daniel asked, in a sensible voice.
“Who the hell is he?” Will asked.
“This is Daniel Bachman. His construction company put the new roof on my house last year. He’s helping me out with the investigation, because he used to be Amish.”
Daniel said, “I wish we could have met under happier circumstances, Will.”
Will sat and studied Daniel for a few seconds before he said, “Yeah, me too.” He sighed, stretching his long legs out in front of him and leaning back, “I began driving for some of the Amish to make extra cash during the summer. I had one particular run that I made in the mornings, picking up several girls and dropping them off at the butcher shop. I’d return in the afternoon for them. Naomi was one of those girls, and well, we sort of hit it off. Even with those horrible clothes, she was so beautiful. And she was really sweet too.” Will wiped his eyes again with the towel. I let him collect himself for a minute before I plowed on.
“Exactly how close were you and Naomi? You know what I mean.” I hated asking, but it was better to get the question over with quickly.
My nephew stared down at the glazed, tiled floor, and toyed with the towel in his hand. When he finally spoke, his voice was resigned. “As close as two people can get.”
I sighed, catching the look of sympathy Daniel was sending me. It was strange to have a man whom I barely knew sitting there in my sister’s kitchen, during a family crises and privy to everything. Yet, for all its strangeness, I felt perfectly all right with it.
“Do you know if Naomi was involved with any of the Amish boys?” I said.
Will made a huffing noise. “Oh, yeah. She was supposed to marry one of them.”
At the same time, both Daniel and I said, “What?”
Daniel shook his head and motioned me to continue, which I did. “Are you sure that she was engaged?”
“Yeah, the wedding was set for spring, but they hadn’t told anyone about it yet, except the parents,” Will said in a voice still heated in anger.
Daniel spoke up, “They wouldn’t speak of it to anyone else in the community. Amish wedding are usually kept secret until a couple of months before the wedding day. Only the immediate family would have known.”
“Will, do you know the guy’s name?” I said, holding my breath.
“Eli. Eli Bender,” He said.
I looked to Daniel, who said, “Bender is a common name in the community, but I know Joseph Bender would be the right age to have a teenage son.”
“Then that’s where we go first,” I said feeling more settled that there was another young man out there, other than my nephew, that might be the father of the unborn child.
“Why? Do you think he had something to do with her death? I read that it was an accident—a hunter that might never have known he hit her.”
“Conveniently, our local newspaper chose to print its own theory,” I said.
“Aunt Rennie, you’re going to find the guy that did this, aren’t you?” Will’s voice was adult now, but it rang in my ears the same as the little kid he used to be, when he expected me to make everything all better.
But this wasn’t a scrape from the pavement that I could bandage for him. My nephew was at real risk for being implicated in Naomi’s death. And then there were the ramifications to my career I had to think about. I’d have to be very careful to walk a tight line on the investigation now that Will was involved. Mayor Johnson had been helpful and friendly thus far, but that could change in a heartbeat. The elderly man had served on and off as Blood Rock’s Mayor for thirty years. He was an expert at making problems that would tarnish the small town’s image disappear—along with the people involved. Once Tony’s illicit affairs in the city came into the open, Mayor Johnson had thrown his support behind me in the election. But I wasn’t fooled by his current friendliness. He’d shove me under a bus if he thought it’d benefit the town.
“I’m sure going to try, but there’s a lot at stake here. You’ve done a good job keeping this secret up until now…and you’re going to have to stay silent for a while longer. Don’t discuss this matter with anyone outside of the family until I give you the go-ahead.” I took a breath and spilled the words before I could change my mind, not procrastinating any longer. “Naomi was about six weeks pregnant. Is there a possibility that the child was yours?”
Will’s eyes went wide with shock before he answered, “I was careful. I was, but maybe, I don’t know—it could have been mine.”
I stayed another half hour consoling my nephew, while Daniel blended into the room. He was so quiet and unassuming I almost forgot he was there. By the time we walked out the door into the bland sunlight of late autumn, I had convinced Will to tell his parents everything. We weren’t Amish, and there was no need for them not to know about his relationship with Naomi. He’d done nothing wrong. And since I was coming back to the house after work to help Will along with the discussion, I’d explain to them the need to stay quiet about it until I’d found out more information. Will needed the support of his family right now more than ever, and that was a priority to me.
When we turned onto the roadway, I told Daniel, “You can drop me off at the department. I have some work to do. I won’t be able to fit in a visit with every Bender family in the community and have my family pow-wow later this afternoon.”
“When do you want to go looking for Eli?” Daniel asked, glancing at me for a second before turning back to the road.
“If it works for you, I’d like to go tomorrow morning.”
“Okay,” Daniel said awfully quickly. I turned to look at him.
“Are you sure I’m not keeping you from building things?” I teased.
“I have a reliable crew, and it’s fairly slow right now. Don’t worry about me. You’ve got me tied up with Naomi Beiler’s death now. I’ll stick with it until we find out what happened to her.”
“Thanks, Daniel,” I said, thinking again how I wished I knew how to flirt with a gorgeous guy.
“You’re welcome.” He paused and looked back at me with determination, throwing me off for a second. “Do you have any plans for dinner?”
I absorbed his words, saying them again in my mind to make sure I understood him.
“Why, do you?” I said.
“Actually, I do. I plan to grill a couple of these steaks I bought today, and I was hoping you’d help me eat them.” He smiled crookedly for a second and then looked back at the road. When I didn’t immediately answer, he added, “I think I have some red wine at the house too. After today’s revelations, you could probably us
e a drink.”
It took only a second more to decide. What the hell, you only live once. And, as poor Naomi proved, you never knew how long you have either.
“I don’t have much of an appetite, but you’re right about the drink. I definitely could use one today.”
“So we have a date?” Daniel asked. We were stopped at a light and he was staring at me, waiting for me to acknowledge what I’d already said, which didn’t make any sense. I rationalized in my head that even though he had said the word date, he couldn’t have meant it like a real date. I just wasn’t that damn lucky.
To appease him and get his eyes back on the road now that the light had changed, I said, “Yes, we do.”
Daniel’s focus shifted back to driving, but I could see that he was trying very hard to tighten his lips from a smile that was threatening to spread. He obviously was quite satisfied that he’d managed to charm another female. The thought that he might actually be sincere was pretty far from my mind.
All I could come up with was that the world was unpredictable—as poor Naomi had discovered.
12
NAOMI
September 19th
Naomi’s thoughts drifted back to when Will caressed her hand before she got out of the truck on Friday afternoon. The touch had sent a jolt though her belly that even now, just thinking about it was reawakened. Guiltily, she glanced over at Eli, who was waiting for her look. He smiled sweetly, before turning back to the bishop’s sermon.
The drone of Bishop Esch’s voice lulled Naomi’s mind, the boredom feeling like the torture of a thousand hands pushing her under the surface of a summer warm pond. Her eyes fluttered and drooped. For an instant, she experienced the freedom of blissful unconsciousness before the jab into her ribs jolted her awake. She didn’t even bother to look her grandmother’s way, already picturing the deep frown etched on Mammi’s wrinkly face. Instead, she turned her attention back to the men’s benches, catching David Lapp’s gaze just before his head went swiftly straight again.
She sighed and pressed the pebbly fabric of her dress on her lap flat. Why wouldn’t he just give it up, she wondered? He was an annoying one for sure—always spying on her with that look of longing that would disappear as soon as she met his eyes. She had no interest in him, she never had. Couldn’t he see that as plainly as the cap on her head? It wasn’t that David was bad to look at, more that her eyes passed through him uncontrollably. He certainly didn’t have the strong, confident manner that Eli owned, or the easy going, friendly way of Will. David Lapp was just too darn emotional and it would take a special girl to put up with him.
Just as the thought entered her mind, Naomi noticed that Sandra, who was sitting directly in front of her, had tilted her own head subtly enough to also gaze in David’s direction. When Naomi glanced between the two, she was shocked to see that they were indeed looking at each other. She let out a soft breath at the revelation and sank down on the bench. A part of her was happy that her friend had finally taken an interest in a guy, but the other side wondered about how desperate Sandra must be to even consider the oldest Lapp boy. Naomi decided that she would have to be extra careful of the words she spoke to Sandy on the matter. As the sermon continued, she tried to recall any unkind thing she might have said about David in Sandy’s presence, becoming increasingly worried that the coolness that Sandy had shown her recently might be an indication that she’d offended her.
Although she wasn’t listening much, the bishop’s words occasionally broke through the imaginary wall she’d built to keep him out. His words were about surrendering self-will. Naomi certainly wasn’t feeling like surrendering at all lately. More and more, her dreams were filled with visions of Will, and not Eli. She feared what the future held, and she couldn’t help shake the feeling that she had no control over what would happen next.
Little fingers brought her attention down as Emma crawled onto her lap. Naomi pulled the toddler up and pressed her close. Her little sister smelled fresh and soapy from the bath that she’d given her that morning. Naomi breathed her in, relishing in a scent that made her feel grounded for a moment.
The church service dragged on for another hour, before the congregation joined together in the last hymn. The men’s voices from the other side of the aisle were the loudest throughout the soulful tune. When the song trailed off to silence, everyone started rousing from the benches, stretching their sore limbs as they moved. Naomi followed Mammi Beiler out into the bright sunshine with Emma’s small hand snuggly in her own.
Feeling the soft tap of fingers on her arm, she slowed to find Sandra behind her. Even without her speaking, Naomi knew her friend wasn’t feeling well. Sandy’s paler than normal complexion and hand over her belly told her what Sandy would say before the words left her mouth.
“My brother is taking me home. I’ve had a tummy ache all morning and I’m afraid I’ll be sick in front of everyone if I stay,” Sandra said.
“Hope you feel better soon,” Naomi told her before she turned to catch up with her grandmother. Even though Mam was really old, Naomi still had to stretch her legs to walk with the woman.
Before Naomi got very far into Esther Lapp’s kitchen, Mamma appeared and passed her littlest sister, Beth, into her arms as she walked by. She went out the door to who knew where without a word or a backwards glance. Since Beth was only a year old, she received the most of what little affection Mamma had available. That’s one of the reasons Naomi found herself mothering little Emma so much—she was the forgotten baby. Naomi glanced down to see Emma’s lips pursed and trembling.
“No fussing little one, come along, you can help me with the sandwiches,” Mammi said to the child, picking up her tiny hand. Mammi winked at Naomi as she crossed to the counter where a couple of the other older women worked to prepare the after-service meal.
Naomi made her way to the sink where Lydia and Melinda were filling cups of water. She shifted Beth’s weight firmly onto her hip bone as she joined them. Lydia’s eyes widened when she saw Naomi and immediately she whispered something into Melinda’s ear.
Naomi ignored them. It was the same as usual. She’d always been treated as if she was an outcast by the other girls, but usually Sandra was by her side to help take the sting out of it. She wished that her friend hadn’t gone home with a belly ache, leaving Naomi alone to face her tormentors. Deep down, she knew they were just jealous, but knowing that didn’t make it any easier.
Lydia turned to Naomi with a fake smile, and said in a loud whisper, “It sure seems like Will Johnson has taken a liking to you, Naomi—the way he always insists on dropping you off last, even though he has to double back to get to town that way.”
Just as Naomi’s heart was dropping into her gut and the blood was draining from her face, Melinda added, after a quick look around for listeners, “I guess Eli Bender isn’t enough for you, huh?”
Naomi swallowed down the spit that had gathered in her throat, and straightening her back, said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you best not go spreading lies.”
Lydia raised one of her eye brows sharply, “What are you going to do about it? Especially, since it’s true that Will Johnson is after you.”
Naomi took a step closer to Lydia, who leaned back into the side of porcelain sink with no place to go. She was ready to give her an earful when suddenly Mervin Lapp was at Naomi’s side. The fifteen year old boy’s chest was puffed out the same as a rooster.
“It isn’t Naomi’s fault if some English driver likes her,” Mervin said, looking straight at Lydia and avoiding Naomi’s shocked eyes.
Mervin spent quite a bit of time at the Beiler’s place, hanging out with Naomi’s younger brothers, so she knew him well. But for the boy to stick his neck out for her with the other girls was not expected, to say the least. He’d just proven that he had the forceful nature that his brother, David, lacked, and Naomi gazed at him with fresh eyes. Mervin may have the same straw colored blond hair that David had, but where David’s eyes we
re a liquid blue that always seemed on the verge of tears, Mervin had green ones that were like shiny springtime grass. And Mervin’s gaze didn’t shy away when Naomi looked at him the way David’s did.
“Why aren’t you out playing with the little boys, Mervin?” Lydia said tartly.
“I just came in for water, not a cat fight,” Mervin replied, placing his hands on his hips.
Mervin’s voice was more mature than Naomi had ever heard before, and for the first time, she noticed that he’d grown taller than her without her realizing it. Even with the peppering of freckles on his smooth face, it was obvious that young Mervin was growing up, and after his display of bravery, Naomi reckoned he’d be a fine man someday.
Lydia picked up the tray of filled cups and without a sideways glance at Naomi, or Mervin, she slid past them and out the door with Melinda close on her heels.
Naomi turned to Mervin and said, “Gee, thanks, Mervin. You didn’t have to risk Lydia’s wrath like that by sticking up for me.”
Mervin’s gaze settled on Naomi’s face for a second too long, and then she understood. Mervin had a crush on her, the same as his older brother. Of course, David had never come to her rescue the way Mervin had.
Before the boy spoke, he looked down at the wooden floor and shuffled his feet. “It was nothing. Those two are just jealous of you. You shouldn’t let it bother you.”
“Oh, it doesn’t,” Naomi frowned, “but I do worry about what might happen if they keep talking about that nonsense and some of the adults start to believe.”
“Truth always prevails. At least, that’s what Dat says,” Mervin said with the sureness of someone far beyond his years.
Lamb to the Slaughter Page 10